Terminal-head fastening



Feb. 28, 1928. Y

E. N. JAcoBl v'I'EIRIVIIPMLI HEAD FASTENING Filed July 25, 1923 WITNESSES Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD N. JACOBI, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TERMINAL-HEAD FASTENING.

Application filed July 25,

This invention has for its object to provide a fastening means for tho terminal heads of switches and the like such as the lighting and ignition switches for automobiles.

With such switch constructions the terminal head of insulating material constitutes a' closure for a cylindrical switch case against which spring contacts bear for making connection with contact studs carried thereby and it is-the object of this invention to utilize the pressure received from the contact means for assisting the terminal head fastening means inholdmg the terminal head firmly in place though permitting of its being easily removed.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the terminal head fastening means as herein claimed and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying draw ngs, in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts in different views,

Fig. l is a rear view of an automobile' 11 for operating a switch member 12. On

the back of the front late is a cup-shaped switch case 13 surroun ing the switch member and closed at its end by a terminal head 14 of insulating material carrying contact studs 15 to be engaged by spring contacts 16 carried by the switch member 12 when the switch handle 11 is turned from one position to another. Instead of mounting the terminal head in the switch case by means of screws as usual, lugs or ears 17 are formed on the edge of the switch case and project inwardly, the disk-shaped terminal head being provided with grooves 18 in its edge through which the lugs ma-y pass when the terminal head is depressed against the action of the spring contacts 16, said lugs 17 serving to prevent the withdrawal of the terminal head when it is turned so that the grooves no longer register with the lugs.

Some means is necessary for fixing the position of the terminal head with respect to the switch case, however, in order that spon 1923. Serial No. 653,691.

head is held rigidly in its definite position without requiring the use of screws or of springcngaging means other than the spring contacts which co-operate with it for the other purpose of efliecting the electrical C0117 nectionsand the operation of attaching and disconnecting the terminal head is simplified.

It will be noted that the distances between the lugs 17 are not the same and that the distances between the grooves and notches are correspondingly varied so that the terminal head can only fit in the switch case in the one posit-ion in which the contact studs bear the proper relation to the spring contacts of the switch member so that improper assembly is impossible.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a switchflor the like, a switch case having inwardly projecting lugs, and a ter minal head provided'with grooves in its edge through which the lugs may pass to find a seat on the ungrooved portion of the terminal head edge.

2. In a switch or the like, a switch case having irregularly positioned inwardly r0- jecting lugs, and a terminal headprovided with ooves in its edge positioned to correwith the positions ofthe lugs and adapted to have the lugs pass therethrough to take a seat on the ungrooved portion of the terminal head edge.

, 3. In a switch having spring acting contacts for engaging a terminal head, a switch case having inwardly projecting lugs a terminal head with notches in its edge throu h which the lugs may pass and seats on t e edge through which the lugs may pass, and

lugs.

seats on the terminal head engaged by the 5. In a switch or the like, a switch case having inwardly extending ln s, and a spring pressed terminal head having grooves acting contact for engaging a terminal head,

a switch case having inwardly projecting lugs, a terminal head provided with grooves in its edge through which the lugs may pass and having notches to receive the lugs when they have passed through the grooves, the spring action of the switch contacts serving to hold the lugs in the notches.

7. In a switch or the like, a cylindrical sheet metal switch case having lugs bent inwardly at its edge, a switch member within the switch case having spring contacts, a

' disk-shaped terminal head of insulating material provided with grooves in its edge through which the lugs may pass and having notches to receive the lugs, said terminal head being engaged by the spring contacts for holding-the terminal head in the position fixed by the engagement of the lugs in the notches.

8. In a. switch or the like, a sheet metal head spaced from the grooves switch-case having lugs formed on its edge bent inwardly, and a fiber terminal head having its edges scored to produce grooves registering with the lugs and through which the lugs may pass to the back of the terminal head, there being indentations in the back of the terminal head to receive the lugs.

.9. In a switch, a cylindrical switch-case, a disk-shaped terminal head fitting therein, and lugs on the switch-case projecting inwardly in the way of the terminal head, there being grooves in the edge of the terminal head through which the lugs pass and indentations on the back of the terminal to receive the lugs.

a disk-shaped insulating terminal head fitting therein for a part of its depth, and lugs standing up on the edge of the switchcase and bent inwardly in the path of the terminal head, there edge of the terminal head through which the lug may pass to the back of the terminal head and indentations in the back of the terminal head in which the lugs are seated determining the extent of projection of the terminal head from the switch-case.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

EDWARD N. JACOBI.

10. In a switch, a cylindrical switch-case,

being grooves in the 

